A record 500 volunteers banded together on June 1 for the third annual Day of Service, an event designed to brighten and beautify the Point Loma community by putting some serious elbow grease into their passion.

The event drew not only community-minded residents, but also high-level city officials, including San Diego City Councilmembers Kevin Faulconer and Lorie Zapf. The annual event is organized by the Point Loma CommunityPresbyterian Church.

“The Day of Service was a great opportunity for the entire community to work together in a variety of 35 projects and skills so all ages could participate,” said event co-chairman Marty Smith.

Many organizations partnered in the effort, including Veterans Village, the YMCA, the youth group from First Church of the Nazarene, Sunset Cliffs Natural Park, Boy Scouts Troop 500 and Troop 24, Girl Scouts, the Point Loma Association and the city of San Diego.

Faulconer and Zapf and students from First Church of the Nazarene planted 13 Torrey pines at Sunset Cliffs Natural Park in memory of Bob Baxley, a former Ocean Beach lifeguard, Sunset Cliffs waterman and superior court judge, as well as in remembrance of 13 victims of a 1918 mass drowning at Ocean Beach.

Zapf also worked along the San Diego River at Dog Beach, where she was helped by Scouts and Capt. Scott Adams, commanding officer of the Point Loma Submarine Base.

Rope barriers were installed to protect native plants. Veterans from Veterans Village helped with hillside stabilization and renovation of the arena seating area at the YMCA and trail work at Cabrillo National Monument.

Point Loma High graduate Will Hage led the effort to paint the backside of the Point Loma High School gym. Planting and cleanup spread across the campuses of Ocean Beach, Dewey, Cabrillo and Silvergate elementary schools.

The Point Loma Association also helped weed the Rose Garden at Liberty Station.

Other key projects included filling gopher holes at Robb Field, preparing food for the homeless, trash removal at Famosa Slough, graffiti removal, writing letter and cards to soldiers, singing to seniors, baking cookies, youth-hostel improvements, prayer-quilt ministry and help to the Presbyterian Urban Ministries and San Diego Food Bank.

“The Day of Service was a wonderful way to bring the community together in a shared vision of doing God’s work,” said event co-chair Byron Wear, a former city councilman.